ARAKAN INDOBHASA Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from January, 2016

Mrauk-U conservation seen as reconstructing not preserving

By Ei Ei Thu   |   Tuesday, 26 January 2016 Heritage zones in Mrauk-U, Rakhine State, are under threat due to renovations that have altered the designs of ancient pagodas, the Mrauk-U Heritage Trust claims. Nuns pray in Mrauk-U, Rakhine State. Photo: Aung Htay Hlaing / The Myanmar Times The Department of Archaeology and the National Museum in Sittwe are both operating construction sites. “They have destroyed the ancient architecture. For example, everyone who comes to visit the Ko Thaung Pagoda agrees that the renovation is badly done because it now looks totally different from its original design,” said Daw Khin Than, chair of the Mrauk-U Heritage Trust. Ko Thaung Pagoda – a name which translates to “90,000 Pagodas” – is the largest in Mrauk-U. The Mrauk-U Heritage Trust is also concerned about the construction of a museum in the heritage zone, on the site of an  old colonial building . “They received a budget of K300 million for the construction and now they want to spend

Risks loom for Myanmar’s Kyaukphyu Economic Zone

January 24, 2016 The end of 2015 saw a series of major announcements and decisions regarding Myanmar’s latest special economic zone (SEZ) in Kyaukphyu township of Rakhine State. In late December, Myanmar’s government approved the  demarcation  of land for the SEZ and awarded tenders to develop the SEZ to a  CITIC Group-led consortium . The Kyaukphyu SEZ is a key part of Myanmar’s drive to attract foreign direct investment. It is one of three such zones set up since the military-backed USDP took over power from the Tatmadaw military junta via elections in 2011. Kyaukphyu’s SEZ includes three projects: a deep-sea port, an industrial park, and a housing project. Optimistic projections suggest the SEZ may boost Myanmar’s GDP by as much as 10 billion USD annually. Failure, on the other hand, could undermine confidence in similar investment projects throughout the emerging economy. The CITIC-led consortium chosen to develop the SEZ’s port and industrial park is composed of five ad

Arakanese nationals arrested by Burma Army

Yangon (Narinjara) 25 January 2016 Two Arakanese nationals were arrested by Burma army personnel last week from Sittwe central market. Soon after their arrest, Hsan Win Tun and Arno alias Kyaw Soe Moe were taken away by the army personals to an unknown location, their families claimed. “On Friday noon, three army personnel in plainclothes first entered into the Sittwe Market.  Later three more army personnel in uniforms arrived there and detained Hsan Win Tun and Kyaw Soe Moe. Both of them were blind-folded and then brought to an army vehicle to take away them,” said the sister of Hsan Win Tun. The army officials did not explain any reason to the families about the arrest of  Hsan Win Tun and Kyaw Soe Moe, both of whom are at Thirties and used to work at a fish market in Sittwe. However, the family members apprehended that they were arrested suspecting to some kinds of connection with the recent fighting between the Burma Army and Arakan Army. The sister of Kyaw Soe Moe

China and Myanmar’s SEZs: strategic partnership or can of worms?

China’s push to re-engage with its southern neighbour may have unexpected costs S ince coming to power in 2011, Myanmar’s President Thein Sein has distanced the country from its previously tight-knit relationship with China in favour of rapprochement with the west and Japan. Yet the past few months have seen a determined push by Beijing to re-engage Myanmar economically and politically, reminding Naypyidaw that it sees the country as a key strategic neighbour, particularly in the wake of recent general elections. High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email ftsales.support@ft.com to buy additional rights.  So Chinese officials will have looked on approvingly on December 30 when Myanmar’s parliament gave the go-ahead to the first phase of the Kyaukpyu special economic zone, awarded to a consortium of mostly C

Local Activist Among Trio Detained in Arakan State

By   MOE MYINT / THE IRRAWADDY |  Friday, January 22, 2016 | Farmers march in Kyaukphyu in protest of what they describe as unfair compensation for their land, damaged by waste from the Shwe gas project, June 3, 2015. (Photo: Wong Aung / Shwe Gas Movement) RANGOON — The chair of a local civil society organization and two others were detained in Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu Township on Thursday, according to eyewitnesses, who suggested the trio were accused of having links to the Arakan Army (AA). Maung Aye, the chair of the Kyaukphyu Rural Development Association, and two other unnamed men were detained in Leik Kha Maw village at around midday on Thursday by a group of eight men in plainclothes, presumed to be police or military officers, according to local monk and the brother of Maung Aye, Oo Bawdi. “Our villagers are very scared now,” said the monk, adding that the plainclothes men were armed. The village is situated near the Shwe gas project, around 10 km from the town of K

Ma Phyu: An Arakanese Love Story by An Arakanese

Ma Phyu: An Arakanese Love Story  By An Arakanese A glorious summer day was fast drawing to a close, in the year 1242 (Burmese Era) when two young men might have been seen wending their way along the Strand Road in Akyab.  One was a smart looking youth with bright intelligent eyes, rather dark complexion, and a slight moustache. He was well built, but by the side of his compassion, seemed somewhat below the average height. His countenance was decidedly pleasing, frankness and animation beaming therefrom, and the soft evening twilight playing about his face, considerably improved his appearance. His compassion was taller, fair, with massive forehead, rather small eyes, and a small brownish moustache. He wore slight whiskers - an unusual adornment among his country - and this, his style of dress, and his gait, caused him to be regarded as a "swell". They were now on the heart of the Strand where the Municipal Bazaar,  the Port Office, the offices of Mseers.

PARADISE LOST AT NGAPALI BEACH?

 11 Dec 2015   Ngapali Beach continues to lose one of its greatest assets, despite beach sand being unsuitable for construction and regulations banning its removal. By HANS HULST | FRONTIER Twenty years ago Ngapali Beach, on the Bay of Bengal in Rakhine State a short drive from Thandwe, was an unspoilt gem in the crown of Myanmar’s natural treasures. The local population, which had access to the beach, lived mainly from the sea. Every now and then a foreigner could be spotted at one of the few hotels along the foreshore. Times have changed. Tourism is modest but growing at Ngapali, with a limited number of mid-range and upscale hotels operating in the area. Nearly all the beachfront land has been sold and only a small strip of public beach remains. But the sand is disappearing. Normally, the sea removes and deposits sand in an everlasting cycle. A beach will gently slope upwards, until it runs into the natural barriers of plant growth and the roots of palm trees. San

Arakan Army Chief: ‘Fresh Clashes Could Break Out at Any Time’

By   NAN LWIN HNIN PWINT / THE IRRAWADDY |  Monday, January 11, 2016 | Arakan Army Commander-in-Chief Brig-Gen Tun Myat Naing. (Photo: JPaing/The Irrawaddy) Clashes erupted between the Arakan Army and the Burma Army around Mt. Yam Chaung, in Kyauktaw Township, from Dec. 27 to Jan. 4. Though conflict has subsided, tensions remain high and hundreds of villagers have already been displaced by the fighting. Myawady Daily, a military-owned newspaper, reported on Jan. 7 that the Burma Army had suffered casualties during the 9-day conflict. The newspaper referred to the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group that has been excluded from peace negotiations, as an insurgent group, vowing that the the government forces would “annihilate” them. The Irrawaddy recently spoke with Arakan Army Commander-in-Chief Tun Myat Naing about what happened in Kyauktaw and how his views on the peace process. What is the current situation in Kyauktaw Township? There is no fighting for the time being, b

Govt Escalates Rhetoric Against Arakan Army as Casualties Mount

By   LAWI WENG / THE IRRAWADDY |  Friday, January 8, 2016 | Arakan Army troops on parade in Laiza, Kachin State, in April 2014. (Photo: Moe Myint / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — A commander and “several” other members of the Burma Army have been killed in recent fighting with the Arakan Army in Kyauktaw Township, according to state-run media, which on Friday reported that the military intended to “remove” the ethnic armed group from Arakan State. An incongruous front page of the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar on Friday featured a detailed account of fighting over the period of Dec. 28-Jan. 4. Above the article was reported the latest developments in the government-led peace process with non-state armed groups who have signed a so-called nationwide ceasefire agreement with Naypyidaw, a grouping of eight that does not include the Arakan Army. The former report said the Burma Army commander was shot and killed by sniper fire from the Arakan Army. The Burma Army seized arms and

Clashes Continue Between Arakan Army and Govt Troops in Kyauktaw Township

By   MOE MYINT / THE IRRAWADDY |  Thursday, December 31, 2015 | The Arakan Army’s 5th anniversary celebrations in Laiza, Kachin State, April 2014. (Photo: Moe Myint / The Irrawaddy) RANGOON — The Arakan Army said it has clashed with government troops on more than 20 occasions since fighting broke out in Arakan State’s Kyauktaw Township on Sunday. At least one civilian was reportedly injured during ongoing fighting, according to a local relief group. The Arakan Army (AA)’s Col Nyo Twan Awng said clashes had continued over four consecutive days near the Ram Chaung tributary in Kyauktaw Township, with several AA soldiers killed or wounded. “Government soldiers are patrolling in the AA’s operating area and that’s why skirmishes broke out,” Nyo Twan Awng said. “We need to ask the government why they are using excessive military force to fight us.” The AA colonel claimed at least 20 Burma Army troops had been killed, an assertion that could not be immediately verified by The Irra

By Phanida On Wednesday, 30 December 2015

By  Phanida On  Wednesday, 30 December 2015 Arakan Army (AA) Vice-Chief of Staff Col. Nyo Tun Aung   The Arakan Army (AA) Vice-Chief of Staff Col. Nyo Tun Aung said his troops had clashed with government troops in Kyauktaw Township, Rakhine State from December 27 until 29. Government troops launched an offensive against the AA stationed at Yamchaung  Mountain, 5 miles north of Mahamuni pagoda in Kyauktaw Township. “We had engagements with them today also. There has been sporadic gunfire today since 7:24 a.m. and then they launched an assault again at about noon. But they could not reach our positions near the Yanchaung mountain range area.” Col Nyo Tun said yesterday. The AA had similar clashes with government troops in April and almost in October. “We were very close to having clashes with them one month before the general elections. But we avoided this as much as we could to not undermine the elections. This time too, we tried to avoid these clashes but they were